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Time for an upgrade

05-12-2007, 12:45 PM

I know most everybody loves their Ridgid tablesaws, (I don't own that one but have used it, nice saw), but I feel the need to upgrade from my little Delta to a "big boy" saw. I'm looking for at least 3HP or 5HP if I can afford it. If anyone has real experience with Powermatic, Jet, Grizzly, Steelcity or others, I would love to hear your comments.
Thanks,
Jack
p.s. I would like to keep it below $2500. (WAY below would be better!!!)

$2500 puts you in the General 350/650, PM2000, and PM66 range. The 650 was rated #1 by Wood, for whatever that's worth, but most owners seem pretty happy with every saw you mentioned. The Steel City is new but seems to be very well received by owners and folks who've seen it....their Orion made Craftsman 22124 has surprised many and their CS is excellent (Steel City owns Orion). Griz has an interesting 12" saw (G0605x) for $1995/$2168 shipped, that looks really interesting to me...might be worth considering too.

Comment

If only we knew what RIDGID has up their sleeve with respect to new tools in the near future (next 6 months).

Will they be offering a cabinet saw?

"When we build let us think we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work that our descendants will thank us for, and let us think, as we lay stone upon stone, that a time is to come when these stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, "See! This our fathers did for us."
John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)

If only we knew what RIDGID has up their sleeve with respect to new tools in the near future (next 6 months).

Will they be offering a cabinet saw?

That is an interesting thought. The only downside is that home depot seems to have a phobia against having display models. I'm happy with the Ridgid tools I have and I'm sure a Ridgid cabinet saw would be well thought out with some interesting features.

$2500 puts you in the General 350/650, PM2000, and PM66 range. The 650 was rated #1 by Wood, for whatever that's worth, but most owners seem pretty happy with every saw you mentioned. The Steel City is new but seems to be very well received by owners and folks who've seen it....their Orion made Craftsman 22124 has surprised many and their CS is excellent (Steel City owns Orion). Griz has an interesting 12" saw (G0605x) for $1995/$2168 shipped, that looks really interesting to me...might be worth considering too.

Comment

As I've been looking around to upgrade the tablesaw, I think I've settled on the SawStop. I like the fact that it may save me some fingers (though I have NO intention of testing it!). The price is way more than I wanted to spend, but it is far less expensive than an emergency room visit. Looked and drooled over one at Woodcraft this last weekend. Feels like a solid machine. Read lots of good reviews. Now I just have to get the C.F.O. to shake loose some funding. Maybe I could get someone to distract her while I go nuts with the credit card...How many soda cans to the recycling center would it take?
Has anyone here done any work on this saw?